Elders as Shepherds
ELDERS AS SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
by Mark E. Ross, Ph.D.
Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Columbia, South Carolina
Be on guard for yourselves and for all in the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:28
These words were spoken by the apostle Paul to the elders of the church at Ephesus when he met with them at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38). It was a most moving meeting. For about three years, Paul had ministered to that church and now, while journeying to Jerusalem and confident that these elders "would see his face no more" (v. 25), he wanted to bid them farewell and remind them of their duties as elders "to shepherd the church of God." In brief, his exhortation charges them with looking after the well-being of the flock, the people of the church.
Paul was well aware that the Ephesian church would come upon hard times.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Acts 20:29-30
Against assault from without and destructive threats from within, the elders are to guard themselves and the flock of God. Paul says they are "to shepherd the church of God." What does he mean by this? Just what is involved in "shepherding" the flock of God?
The Greek word translated "to shepherd" in Acts 20:28 is poimanein. The literal meaning of the verb is "to tend a flock." When it is used with respect to the care of people, the meaning of the verb is "to protect, care for, nourish." As we shall see, all these shades of meaning are present in the biblical discussion of shepherding.
While the dictionary and lexicon can be of some help to us in understanding Paul's meaning when he urges elders "to shepherd" the church of God, it is the Bible itself which gives us our clearest understanding of what shepherding is. We turn first to the example and teaching of the Good Shepherd Himself. Jesus said:
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:11-15
Prominent in this passage is the idea of protecting the flock. Unlike the hireling, who, when he sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep and flees, the good shepherd stays to protect the sheep. He stays because he is concerned about the sheep, while the hireling is not. If necessary, and in the case of the Good Shepherd it was necessary, he will lay down his life for the sheep. Most often, the sacrifice required of the shepherd will not be so great; but this extreme supposition helps us to see the basic idea more clearly: the good shepherd looks after the well-being of the sheep, doing all that is necessary for their protection. Clearly Paul had in mind the protection of the flock when he spoke to the Ephesian elders at Miletus. He knew that "savage wolves" would come in among the flock and that even from within the flock itself "men will arise, speaking perverse things." Against such enemies the flock must be protected, and it is the responsibility of the elders to protect them. What they must guard the flock against, principally, are corruptions either in doctrine or conduct. So far as they are able, they must see to it that not one lamb strays from the fold, or falls victim to a wolf.
Another idea about shepherding that is important in this passage and closely connected to that of protecting the flock is that the good shepherd knows his sheep. "I am the good shepherd, and I know my own...(John 10:14)." The good shepherd is with his flock, going among them to watch over them. He watches that no enemies enter into the flock. When an enemy appears, he defends the flock. He looks to see if there are any who are in need, or if any are missing. If he finds that any are in need, he goes to help them. If he finds that any are missing, he will "go after the one which is lost, until he finds it. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing (Luke 15:4,5)." The good shepherd, we can see, cares for the flock. But only the shepherd who knows his sheep is really able to care for them. If the shepherd is to defend the flock when he sees the wolf coming, he must be in a position to see that the wolf is coming. He must know what is going on in the lives of his people. "I am the good shepherd, and I know my own..."
Not only does the good shepherd know his own; his own know him! "I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me." As the flock will not know a shepherd who does not go among them, so the flock will not follow a shepherd which they do not know.
...he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.
John 10:2-5
If the elder expects to lead his flock, he must be known to his sheep. A stranger, Jesus says, they simply will not follow. Paul shows us how to do it. His ministry in Ephesus was both public and from house to house (v. 20). Each one, he says, he admonished with tears (v. 31). Always his aim was to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. To do so he went among them preaching the kingdom (v. 25). This builds trust since the sheep can see that the shepherd does indeed care for them. Without this visible demonstration of the elder's concern and commitment to the flock of God, leadership among the flock will be severely curtailed: "...a stranger they simply will not follow...because they do not know the voice of strangers."
In addition to protecting and caring for the flock, the elder must also nourish the flock. The apostle Peter, like Paul, was concerned about the shepherding ministry of the elders. He says, "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, ...shepherd the flock of God...(I Peter 5:1,2)." Peter was perhaps especially concerned about this ministry; afterall, the Lord Himself repeatedly exhorted Peter to this task. Three times the Lord inquired of Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Then after the interrogations the Lord would exhort him, "Tend My lambs...Shepherd My sheep...Tend My sheep (John 21:15-17)." After exhorting Peter in this manner, He revealed to Peter that like his Lord before him, he too would lay down his life for the sheep. Then once again He called to Peter, "Follow Me! (John 21:19)."
In Peter's encounter with the risen Christ, the shepherd's task in feeding and nourishing the flock becomes prominent. "Feed My lambs, tend My sheep"--this is what the Lord Jesus commanded Peter to do. But how does the elder nourish the flock, how does he "feed the lambs, and tend the sheep?" Certainly it is by nourishing the flock on the word of God, the Holy Scriptures. See how this comes out in Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian elders. Here Paul brings before them his own example by which they may understand what their ministry is to be as elders and overseers.
You yourselves know from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews, how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house.
Acts 20:17-20
In Paul's shepherding of the flock at Ephesus, he reminded them that he had been with them (v. 18). He served among them with all humility. At times he even suffered for his ministry among them. Like a good shepherd, he laid down his life for the sheep (v. 19). While he was with them, he taught them, not failing to teach anything that was profitable (v. 20). Later in the passage, he says that he did not shrink from declaring to them the whole purpose or counsel of God (v. 27). In v. 31, he says that during the three years he was with them, he did not cease to admonish each one with tears. In v. 20, he indicates that his teaching and admonishment were both public and from house to house. Such were his efforts to nourish the flock. It is this example that he gives to the elders of Ephesus.
Paul also gives a prominent place to the teaching role of elders when he writes to Titus concerning the appointment of elders in the cities of Crete. He writes to Titus saying that the overseer must be "holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict (Titus 1:9)." Exhorting in sound doctrine, refuting those who contradict--this is how the elder is to nourish the flock. Because the elder must nourish the flock in this manner, Paul insists that "an overseer, then, must be...able to teach (I Tim. 3:2)."
As we have seen from the example and teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles Peter and Paul, elders are to be shepherds of the church of God. In this capacity they are to protect, to care for, and to nourish the flock of God. The shepherding ministry is thus an imitation of the Lord's ministry. It is shepherding the flock after the pattern of the Good Shepherd Himself. In keeping with this, elders must know the flock. They must care for those in need. Those who are lost, they must seek out and find. They must exhort in sound doctrine, and they must refute those who contradict. And these things they must do, both publicly and from house to house. The well-being of the church depends on it.
The preceding discussion will perhaps seem to confuse the duties of elders with those of pastors, or ministers of the word, as they are sometimes called. It must be remembered, however, that it is the elders which Peter and Paul exhort to shepherd the church of God (Acts 20:17,28; I Peter 5:2). Pastors share in these duties, to be sure; that is because they too are elders. Peter exhorted the elders as a "fellow-elder" (I Peter 5:1). By insisting that it is the responsibility of elders to shepherd the church of God, we have not meant to deny that pastors are to do this. Yet we must be clear that this task of shepherding does belong to the elders. Pastors share in the task because they too are elders.
It is perhaps useful to point out here that the role of elders in shepherding the church of God as derived from the Bible is in fact the role of elders described in the Form of Government of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Chapter VIII.B.2. of the Form of Government states:
It is the responsibility of ruling elders, both individually and jointly, to guard and promote the spiritual welfare of the congregation. They are required by their office to visit the people, especially the sick, and pray with them, to comfort the sorrowing, encourage the weak, guide the wayward, and the careless, and, in general, to discharge all other duties in Christian love.
In this paragraph are all the basic ideas of shepherding: protecting, caring for, and nourishing the flock. If such a conception of the elders' role in the church seems to blur the distinction between pastors and elders, this is only because we have failed to see the Biblical emphasis upon the pastoral duties of elders.
It is most unfortunate that this emphasis has been so little understood or appreciated in the contemporary church. Presbyterians, who really should know better, seem to have been particularly guilty of this. What we have on paper in our constitutional standards has been much better than our practice. In practice we (perhaps unconsciously) regard the session as something akin to a board of directors for a corporation, as principally a decision-making body. The primary responsibility of this board is then to set good overall policies for the organization and to see to it that these policies are followed by those chiefly responsible for carrying out the organization's work. Under this structure the pastor functions as a chief executive officer, who together with his staff carries out the decisions of the board. Clearly this is not what we find in the scriptures. For it is unto the elders that Peter and Paul say, "Shepherd the church of God!" Shepherding involves much more than decision-making: it involves getting to know the flock, watching over them, protecting them, caring for them, visiting them, instructing them, comforting them, and so on. These are not duties that can simply be delegated to "the professionals." They are duties which belong to the office of elder as such. It is what Christ calls elders to do.
Once we come to understand the office of elder as the Bible itself teaches it, we see much more clearly the shepherding nature of this office. We see too the immense honor it is to be called to this task, being entrusted with the oversight of the flock of God. So one must enter upon this work with the right motivation, and carry out the duties of this office in the right manner. Thus Peter says to elders,
...shepherd the flock of God among you, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
I Peter 5:2,3
Accepting the office of elder must be a voluntary act, one prompted from a conviction of being called by God and not because one has been pressured by others. This service must be rendered out of a desire to be faithful to Christ in caring for his people and not because one hopes to gain from it in a selfish manner. It is a task to be taken up with eagerness, even though it is very demanding service to Him. It is also a responsibility that must be carried out in humility, not lording it over the flock, but leading from a posture of service and compassion. Such is the calling of elders, and if the elders are careful to do these things, Peter says that "when the Chief Shepherd appears, they will receive the unfading crown of glory (v. 4)."
Long ago the Lord promised through Jeremiah as the prophet looked forward to the day of salvation (Jer. 3:15): "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding." That promise Christ fulfills in His New Testament church. So may the Lord our God look with mercy upon His church, and grant unto us that which He has promised, and raise up for us leaders who will be faithful to shepherd the flock of God, which He purchased with His own blood. Soli Deo Gloria
First Fruits is a publication ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina
All Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION. Copyright c 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, by THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION.
